Apple Watch Expands Hypertension Alerts to 7 New Countries
▼ Summary
– Apple is expanding its hypertension alert feature to Apple Watch users in seven new countries, including Australia and Brazil.
– The feature uses the watch’s optical heart sensor to passively analyze blood vessel data over 30-day periods for signs of hypertension.
– It aims to notify users of potential undiagnosed hypertension, prompting them to seek medical advice or make lifestyle changes.
– The rollout now makes the feature available in a total of 170 countries and regions worldwide.
– The hypertension notification feature was initially introduced as part of the watchOS 26 update last year.
Apple has significantly broadened the reach of its health-focused technology, now making its hypertension notification feature available to Apple Watch users in seven new countries. This expansion brings a powerful passive health monitoring tool to major markets across Asia, Oceania, South America, and the Middle East, directly on users’ wrists.
The innovative feature, first introduced with watchOS 26, operates by using data from the watch’s optical heart sensor. It analyzes how a person’s blood vessels respond to heartbeats. An algorithm works quietly in the background, reviewing data over rolling 30-day periods. If it detects consistent signs of elevated blood pressure, it will send an alert to the wearer. This provides users with critical, early insights into a widespread condition, empowering them to seek medical advice, consider lifestyle changes, or begin treatment to mitigate long-term health risks.
Initially, the rollout was pending necessary regulatory approvals, including clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While Apple originally anticipated launching the feature in over 150 regions, the company has been methodically expanding its availability following these approvals. A previous expansion in December brought the capability to the United Arab Emirates.
The latest phase of the global rollout, as recently observed, adds support for users in several key nations. The seven new countries gaining access to hypertension alerts are Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Turkey. This update means the health monitoring feature is now accessible to Apple Watch owners in a total of 170 countries and regions worldwide.
Apple has previously highlighted the potential impact of this technology, estimating it could notify over one million people with undiagnosed hypertension within its first year of operation. The feature is designed to be a convenient and constant health companion, requiring no active input from the user beyond wearing their watch. By offering these discreet notifications, Apple continues to position its wearable devices as essential tools for proactive personal wellness.
(Source: 9to5Mac)
